County Watershed Specialists
The Watershed Specialist Consortium was created in early 2025, to foster peer-to-peer mentorship and enhance project implementation skills for the HRG Countywide Action Plan (CAP) counties including: Blair, Cambria, Centre, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Snyder, and Union.
So far this year, several meetings have occurred between the Watershed Specialists and HRG to directly support the goals of Pennsylvania’s Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) by empowering each other to manage water quality projects more effectively.
In February, a kickoff luncheon event at the Lewistown County Club was supported by the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds Convening Grant.
The event featured a tailored agenda based on pre-event surveys, including sessions on CAPs, project management, and site visit strategies.
Specialists engaged in small and large group discussions, shared District experiences, and reviewed real-world examples like the Hershey Buffer Project and Lewistown Country Club restoration plans.
A highlight was the introduction of a Project Life Cycle flow chart, which delineated the steps from project identification to closeout.
A second meeting was held in May that highlighted grant administration, applications, and a Growing Greener Grant Program walkthrough.
Post-event feedback revealed increased confidence in project oversight, grant writing, and landowner engagement—key components for a Watershed Specialist to excel in implementing their County CAP goals.
The group unanimously voted to continue with the Consortium, with quarterly meetings and a shared Google Drive to support ongoing collaboration.
Intern Highlights
This summer, two interns—Camille Michon and Caroline Hunter—contributed significantly to Pennsylvania’s watershed restoration efforts through DEP’s Bureau of Watershed Restoration and Nonpoint Source Management (BWRNSM).
Camille Michon served as the Nonpoint Source Intern, working on GIS tools and developing the 2024–2025 Watershed Specialists Annual Report.
She collaborated with interns from agriculture-related organizations on the PA Ag and Food Careers Project, leading the launch of a LinkedIn group to connect students and professionals.
Her hands-on experiences included water sampling, site visits to conservation projects across several counties, and attending policy events.
Camille shared that working with BWRNSM allowed her to explore the intersection of agriculture and restoration by learning how the Bureau’s grant programs support conservation efforts across the state.
She found it especially rewarding and inspiring to see how state-level collaboration with local partners can lead to tangible on-the-ground projects that drive environmental change.
Caroline Hunter interned with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration Division, focusing on the CAP grant program.
Her tasks included data visualization, progress tracking, and best management practice (BMP) reporting quality assurance review.
To improve coordination, she began developing a Watershed Manager Partnership Map and assisted with Clean Water Academy reorganization efforts.
Additionally, she met with various CAP County partners and visited installed BMPs. Caroline shared that working with BWRNSM offered a rare opportunity to engage with the financial and administrative dimensions of environmental work—areas not often emphasized in academic settings.
Working in Harrisburg added significant value by placing her at the heart of state-level environmental decision-making.
Through exposure to grant implementation and scientific communication, she gained a deeper understanding of how science, policy, and funding intersect to drive meaningful environmental outcomes.
On July 22, 2025, both interns were hosted by Governor Josh Shapiro at the Governor's Mansion in Harrisburg.
The gathering offered an opportunity for interns to connect across agencies and engage directly with the Governor.
In his address to all interns, Governor Shapiro spoke candidly about his commitment to civic engagement, environmental conservation, and voting rights, emphasizing the pivotal role young professionals play in shaping Pennsylvania’s future.
After his speech, Caroline had a separate conversation with the Governor alongside an intern from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).
During their discussion, Governor Shapiro praised restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay, mentioned his love for it, and emphasized the need for continued support and funding for environmental initiatives at both the state and federal levels.
County Initiatives
Here are just a few county project highlights--
-- Bedford County Completes Rocklick Creek Streambank Stabilization Project
-- Dauphin County: PA Municipal Authorities Association Members Achieve Sediment Reduction Through Joint Pollutant Reduction Plan to Improve Watershed Health
-- Franklin County Hosts Tour of CAP-Funded Project and Celebrates Conservation Farmer of the Year
-- Franklin County’s District Manager Earns Statewide Recognition
-- Lancaster County’s Stormwater Projects Stand Resilient Amid Record July Rains
-- Lancaster Approves Landmark Lease for Environmental Center
Funding Opportunities
-- State Conservation Commission Most Effective Basin Nutrient Reduction Funding
-- Agriculture: REAP Farm Conservation Tax Credit Program
-- DEP Environmental Education Grants
-- County Conservation District Strategic Planning Grants
Educational Opportunities
-- Sept. 9: Penn State Extension Hosts Webinar on Proper Native Tree Planting for Long-Term Success
-- Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training Hosts In-Person Ag Conservation Keystone Training
-- Level 1 Training Opportunity Available for the Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Program
-- DEP Clean Water Academy Legacy Sediment Removal Course - Send email to Jim Spatz at jspatz@pa.gov to be notified of future webinars
Click Here to read the entire Healthy Waters newsletter. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.
Visit DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed webpage to learn more about cleaning up rivers and streams in Pennsylvania's portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Click Here to sign up for regular updates on Pennsylvania’s progress.
How Clean Is Your Stream?
The draft 2024 report has an interactive report viewer that allows you to zoom in to your own address to see if the streams near you are impaired and why.
Click Here to check out your streams. Click Here for a tutorial on using the viewer.
For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website. Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.
(Photo: County Watershed Specialists.)
Related Articles This Week:
-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners Announced Award Of More Than $87,000 Clean Water Fund Grants [PaEN]
-- Penn State Research Sheds Light On Beech Creek's Struggle With Abandoned Mine Drainage In Centre, Clinton Counties [PaEN]
-- Three Rivers WaterKeeper Announces Intent To Sue Multiple Entities For Decades Long Discharges To The Allegheny River In Pittsburgh [PaEN]
-- Protecting Presque Isle Bay & Lake Erie: Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Expands Anti-Litter Programs With Key Partners [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension Land Use Series Webinars On Solar Development, Stormwater Management, Using A.I. For Community Planning; Other Extension Education Programs [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension Sept. 17 In-Person Tap Talks - York County Water Quality Monitoring, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
NewsClips:
-- Penn State’s 2025 Ag Progress Days A Success In Showcasing Innovation, Impact To An Estimated 42,000 People
-- LehighValleyNews.com: Watershed Coalition Of The Lehigh Valley Recognized With A Northeast Environmental Partnership Award
-- The Derrick: Two Mile Run’s Justus Lake Is Made A Bit More Natural Through New Fish Habitats [PDF of Article]
-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: US Geological Survey ‘Sentinel Scientists’ Perform Vital But Often Unseen Role In Bay Restoration
-- The Allegheny Front - Julie Grant: Three Rivers WaterKeeper Issues Intent To Sue Over Oil And Tar In Allegheny River
-- Watershed Alliance Of York, Partners Host 23rd Annual York Watershed Week Sept. 13 to 20 [PaEN]
-- Warren Times: Allegheny River Cleanup Sept. 11-13
-- Warren Times Editorial: Giving Back To The Allegheny River - River Cleanup Sept. 11-13
-- NextPittsburgh: We Visited The Ohio River’s Uninhabited Islands
-- Altoona Mirror: Intergovernmental Stormwater Committee Awards Brush Run Streambank Restoration Project Contract
[Posted: August 30, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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